Meds issue ... need input please!

February 3, 2008

Hello all,

Argh, I am really frustrated right now! Found out that my dd, age 15

is now flunking 3 of her classes and is not doing very well in 2

more. We upped her dosage of Zoloft from 75mg. to 100mg. right

before Christmas because she was experiencing much more anxiety with

the stress of school and even had panic attacks again. I posted that

right after the dosage increase she pierced her lip and I was

wondering if that could be connected with the increase in any way. I

talked to my dd and she said its like she just " doesn't feel like "

doing her work and has been just not doing it. She feels lazy. This

is a child that before her anxiety/panic dx two years ago would GO

NUTS if she even thought her schoolwork wasn't done. The OCD

behaviors (writing over and over, some issues with reading, etc.)

would kick in then. Now its like the OPPOSITE. I am really

suspecting the meds increase and talked to her p-doc on Friday. He

said definitely the apathy could be a side effect so drop the dosage

back down to 75 right away and he wants to see her in two weeks.

Plus he was a bit concerned about the self piercing ... (she has also

done her ear cartilage and lobes herself). This is a child who when

little, was terrified of needles. So I don't know ... this is so

frustrating because you want to believe that meds will " fix things "

and then you see stuff like this. Maybe its not the meds and just the

teen years. All I know is, before the meds, she was SO anxious and

had panic attacks frequently so now at least that is better.

Has anyone had similar experience or any input? I htink her p-doc is

considering maybe a meds change at this point and maybe some

therapy. I am worried for her future academically if she can't pull

this together. I talked to her school counselor and am sending out

an e-mail letting her teachers know her situation (not to absolve her

totally from responsibility but at least they will have a heads up

and can work with us on monitoring her a bit more closely). She has

been under 504 for sensory issues since 1st grade and then added the

anxiety/panic disorder dx. in 8th grade.

Thanks so much for any comments or suggestions. Sorry for the vent!

Tina in Texas

February 3, 2008

Hi Tina,

I have an 11 yr old dd that has been on Zoloft since age 5. She does well on

50mg only. If it is lower, it's not enough. If it's higher she acts similar to

the way you described your dd.

Perhaps the doctor will have her do therapy also , and/or maybe add a med for

Panic, like Ativan or Klonpin to take on an as needed basis when her anxiety is

severe.Maybe he might consider changing her SSRI.

Hugs

Judy

February 3, 2008

Hi Tina,

I have an 11 yr old dd that has been on Zoloft since age 5. She does well on

50mg only. If it is lower, it's not enough. If it's higher she acts similar to

the way you described your dd.

Perhaps the doctor will have her do therapy also , and/or maybe add a med for

Panic, like Ativan or Klonpin to take on an as needed basis when her anxiety is

severe.Maybe he might consider changing her SSRI.

Hugs

Judy

February 4, 2008

BJ and Judy ... thanks for your input. Sounds like this is not that

unusual. Its just frustrating! I guess I have to be thankful that

she is not as fearful as she was before the meds. I honestly think

her dose needs to be dropped even more or maybe changed to something

else. I agree with the therapy suggestion, too ... maybe having

something that would help with coping skills rather than throwing more

meds at the anxious feelings would help. We did talk about the idea

that SOME anxiety is helpful and even normal, if it keeps you

motivated and safe. I think that last one is my biggest worry ... the

grades dropping is bad enough, but I am concerned that there is a bit

of " lowered inhibition " is in there as well. Not fully thinking about

consequences, etc.

Oh, she does have short acting meds -- Niravam (like xanax)to take for

things like speaking in front of the class,etc. It works okay, but

even with that, the smallest dose is so sedating. One day I had to go

get her at school because I had given her one in the morning to help

in speech class and by the next period she couldn't even focus. It

was awful!

Well, we have an appt. with the p-doc next week so I guess we just

work from there!

Tina in Texas

>

> Hi Tina,

> I have an 11 yr old dd that has been on Zoloft since age 5. She does

well on 50mg only. If it is lower, it's not enough. If it's higher she

acts similar to the way you described your dd.

> Perhaps the doctor will have her do therapy also , and/or maybe add

a med for Panic, like Ativan or Klonpin to take on an as needed basis

when her anxiety is severe.Maybe he might consider changing her SSRI.

> Hugs

> Judy

>

February 4, 2008